Evaluación de los efectos de la aplicación de herbicidas en el cultivo de banano sobre el microbiota del suelo.

Abstract

Banana cultivation in Ecuador is of great economic, social and environmental importance, as the country is one of the main exporters worldwide. However, the intensive use of herbicides in plantations has raised concerns due to their negative effects on soil microbiota, microbial biodiversity and fertility, which directly impacts crop productivity. In addition, their prolonged application can affect human health and the environment, contributing to water pollution and the deterioration of nearby ecosystems. The soil microbiota, composed of a diversity of microorganisms that influence the fertility and health of the ecosystem, plays a key role in agricultural productivity and the resilience of the crop to diseases and adverse climatic factors. Alterations of this balance due to excessive use of herbicides can reduce nutrient absorption and increase the vulnerability of banana plants to different stresses and pathogens present in the soil and irrigation water. This field and laboratory study evaluated the effects of herbicides on the morphology and viability of beneficial fungal spores isolated from banana-growing soils, using a statistical analysis based on ANOVA. The results showed that herbicides cause significant spore deformations, with variations depending on the type of herbicide and the microbial strain evaluated. Compared to the control treatment, the three herbicides evaluated increased spore deformity, with T3 being the most damaging. This effect compromises the functionality of Trichoderma harzianum and T. citrinoviride , reducing their biocontrol capacity and affecting soil microbial dynamics. In conclusion, the impact of herbicides on soil microbiota depends on their type and concentration, with adverse effects on beneficial fungi. These findings underline the need for management strategies that minimize their impact, promoting more sustainable agriculture.